US President Donald Trump on Saturday appointed Mark Savaya as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq. "I'm pleased to announce Mark Savaya will serve as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq. Mark's deep understanding of the Iraq-U.S. relationship, and his connections in the region, will help advance the interests of the American people," the US president wrote on Truth Social.
The Assyrian region of Tur Abdin in Turkey, homeland of the Assyrian people, is among the most breathtaking places on Earth. It forms part of the ancient land of Beth Nahrain (Mesopotamia), the cradle of civilization, beauty, and stunning nature. Within this sacred landscape lies the Assyrian village of Hah, whose name means "place of rest" in Assyrian.
As Iraq approaches its parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, 2025, debate has reignited over whether the democratic process still holds meaning in a system burdened by corruption, division, and public disillusionment.
When siblings Lisa and Jacob David opened a food truck in downtown Olympia in 2011, they had one problem: The local health department, which needed to approve their operation, had no code for traditional shawarma. No one in Thurston County had asked for the process to be certified before, they recall. Jacob David, raised with his sister in Toledo, Ohio, called in some Midwest backup.
When not playing volleyball, Doreen Romel Shamow competes for her country's national basketball team, a team she has played with since she was 15 years old. Balancing her final year of high school with playing for Iraq's national volleyball team, Moreen Sabri recorded a score of 97.83% on her secondary school exam, one of the highest averages in the country.
Turkey has firmly rejected allegations that it deported foreign nationals belonging to Christian communities, calling the claims baseless and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting the country.